[starriesky, cyrrus] The key

[StarrieSky]

Hawkeye was fuming. How dare he. After all the shit he pulled he didn't have the right to act so high and mighty. But he would behave. He would control his urge to kill him. He'd do it for Tony.


And then Loki made the mistake of telling him to calm down. "That's it." If he didn't leave now he'd kill him. To make things worst the Loki inside his head started muttering to him as well, gleefully telling him about all the things he could do, trying to get him to do it. But Thor wouldn't appreciate him killing his brother. Not only that, but he'd take away their last hope of saving Tony. He refused to be the one to doom his friend. So he turned around and stalked away, planning to go down to the gym and take his frustrations and anger out on the equipment.


Emma watched Clint leave the room with a frown. She turned back to Loki, crossing her arms as she glared at him. "Can't you just leave him alone?" She didn't like Loki. He was arrogant, cocky, and kept provoking Clint. She would be glad when he finally left. She sighed. "Let's just get this over with so you can go." She sat down on the couch opposite of Loki. "Tony starts a war. No one knows why. But one day he shows up at the tower a changed man. He kills his teammates, his friends, without remorse. He terrorizes the people with drones that keep an eye on everyone. Those that openly oppose him disappear. Even the mutants, who are neutral, fall victim to him." That was all she was willing to tell him. She didn't want to go into details again. She just wanted to forget it all happened. She was still grieving for Quicksilver's death, together with the other mutants. At least, she would have been if she didn't keep pushing it away. She'd grief once everything was over. "Seeing how powerful you are, you surely must know the answer." She said this in a mocking tone.

 

[Syrrus]

Before Clint managed to leave the room, Loki pointed with a dull finger towards Emma. "Do you understand the complications if I would show up here acting different?" He asked, simply tilting his head. How Loki managed to look like a grown man even in a child's body was a strange thing indeed. Perhaps it was the eyes, which was filled with emotion and almost pouring with wisdom that no mortal could ever claim. He didn't expect the woman to answer and therefore continued. "I am Loki and I will always be Loki. The Evil side of me is swimming inside my soul, it whispers to me, tries to control me. You who travel time should know this, I suppose you haven't done it enough but let me tell you what happens with drastic change."


Loki moved forward, as if he was going to whisper her a secret even though she was standing too far from him to be able to do so, he continued. "Every time you tell someone about a change you have made in time you are scratching their mind with needles." He took an apple of the table, looked at it as he started to scratch the skin with his nail, softly. A small tear began to build, at first it was nothing but a dent but then the it started to peel off. "A small piece of information about what you discovered when traveling in time does little harm, a mere dent but would you mention a change in time you are about to make you'll case a big scratch and the bigger the change you are trying to make which you also explain will cause heavy damage." Loki then, without using much force managed to cut the apple in half, snap it right in the middle.


"If I am pretending to be kind to Barton, if I beg for forgiveness to any of you mortals, if I act in a way which I would never have done previously I will cause the same damage. Only Gods can get reincarnated and every time we do we'll dent the surface of reality for anyone we explain it to."


Loki looked up at her, feeling his heart shiver slightly for he could hear his old voice, the curse of being Loki claw at the walls of his mind. "If I don't push him, a mortal who has been inside my head just as much as I have been inside his. I left a mark, girl, a big one and now when that side of me is dead and gone only the mark will remain and that mark will become a deeper dent, for the mark inside Barton's head is me. Everything I think everything I do will be like a whisper inside his mind and a drastic change to those whispers will break him worse than you could possibly imagine."

 

[StarrieSky]

Clint listened to Loki's speech as he waited for the elevator doors to open. He didn't really care about the new information. So Loki acted like that to stop his mind from breaking? Well great, give him a medal. All is forgiven. As if. The world didn't work that way. "I don't buy it." He turned around, facing the group. "You're acting like this to stop my mind from breaking? I don't believe it. People don't change so easily, as you - " he pointed at his head - "so kindly keep reminding me." It was true. Even now, the voice inside his head was telling him he couldn't escape the things he did while under Loki's mindcontrol, and that it would be a matter of time before he'd return. After all, people don't change so easily.


Emma frowned. So big changes will cause heavy damage... Was that the case with Tony as well? Was it possible to save him without causing a lot of damage? "If that is true... Is it even possible to save Tony?" She was scared of the answer. If they couldn't save Tony, she didn't know what she'd do. She didn't want him to die, but she didn't want other people to die either.


She now understood why Loki treated Clint the way he did. But that did not mean she had to like it.

 

[Syrrus]

"Of course you can still change time, don't be silly girl. You just have to be careful with how you explain it to him, once it is done."


Loki looked over at Clint and couldn't help himself from smiling heavily, which caused Thor to flinch. Did it have to be this way? He loved his brother more than anyone could possibly tell. Of course he understood why no one would trust him or even forgive him for what he had done but it hurt him, enough so he had to sit down not to fall over. "Well no, that's probably true. Shall we test it maybe?" Loki said which caused Thor to quickly stand again. "Loki! No, by the All Father do not do anything stupid." "It's not stupid brother, see it as a... practical explanation."


He jumped on the ground. This was going to hurt something awfully, not only for Loki but for Clint a well.


"I am sorry!" It was like hell had broken lose. Loki's proud expression faltered, it shivered up and died leaving a shaking boy who was gripping onto himself, trying to stop his entire being from shivering too heavily while the tears was welling up. "I- I know what I did is beyond forgiving. I know that I was cruel foolish and evil... I know that now!"


Thor was the first to react by stumbling forward. Loki looked so much like the boy he had used to be, before the announcement about who he truly was, of his purpose. Bruce felt uncomfortable, mostly, and did his best to stay as far away from the tiny god as he possibly could. Steve on the other hand looked confused, how could this small creature be the man who had destroyed their homes? He understood far too little of the world it seemed.


Kid Loki fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face, pouring like rivers as he tried to grip something invincible on the floor. "He's going to destroy me. He's going to take my life and use it for the purpose Odin gave us!" The boy cried as his hit his forehead against the floor, sitting like a lump with a shivering shell. "I am truly sorry! I don't want to be left alone for the darkness to consume me. I don't want to be the thing people whisper about, the thing they hate. I just wanted them to love me too! To see my as something that wasn't a frost giant I never wanted to be a monster!"


"Loki..." Thor stumbled forward and landed on his knees on the floor, gripping the boy tightly, pulling him up and into his arms as the small form moved closer, trying to hide itself from the hateful looks and the regret that filled his being with guilt. "She's dead... The only one who cared for me is dead!" Loki had opened up a door he had tried to keep close. The entire tower shook as he cried against his brothers frame, shivering and whispering Frigga's name and title under his breath.

 

[StarrieSky]

Clint frowned, shocked at Loki's sudden change and apology. He opened his mouth to tell him to stop it, but he was frozen by a shock to his system. It was like an electric current ran from his head all the way to his toes. Nothing made sense to him anymore. It was like left had suddenly become right. He was about to ask Loki what the hell was going on when the pain hit him.


He gasped in shock, hands flying up to clutch at his head. The pain was overwhelming. He fell down on his knees, leaning forward until his forehead was lying on the ground. He had never experienced such an intense pain before. It was as if something inside his head was trying to escape, cracking open his skull. He couldn't think. He couldn't see straight. The world around him faded as the pain took control of him. It was all he could feel. It took all his willpower not to start screaming. Instead pained gasps escaped his lips. His body was shaking, eyes clenched shut.


Emma ran towards him. "Clint!" She fell down on her knees next to her, arms wrapped around his shoulders. She could feel him shaking against her, the sound of his pained gasps reaching her. She felt helpeless as she held him. Was there really nothing she could do? She looked at Loki, sobbing in Thor's arms. He was lost in his grief. She looked at Bruce and Steve, silently asking them for help.

 

[Syrrus]

"What's happening?!" Steve shouted, deciding to grab on to whatever control possible at that point in time. Thor was hiding his brother against him, Loki was delirious, something that often happens when depression hits a little bit too hard and kept sobbing, muttering that they all was going to kill him, that they wanted to hurt him. Clearly terrified. Thor was of course not going to let any of that happen, especially not to his brother who was too small and weak to handle it.


Steve stepped forward, grabbing hold of Barton, staring at him and then at Thor. He had to stop this, there had to be some way. Thor wasn't as intelligent as Loki, he didn't understand how they could be connected in such a fashion but Bruce seemed to know, it was almost disgustingly familiar to him.


"C- Calm Loki down." Bruce said as he got out of his seat, slowly walking forward. "How is that going to help?!" Steve asked in frustration, not towards Bruce but towards the whole situation. "Just trust me on this." Banner said slowly and Thor did as he was told.


The God of Thunder carefully stroke his hand down Loki's back. Treating him like the child who's body he was trapped in, for he was a child. A small and fragile thing. "Brother, it is alright. They will not hurt you, I will not let them." Thor said, trying to get the God of Mischief to focus on his eyes.


It was like a refreshing breeze went though the small gods mind as he looked up at his brother, shivering and trying his best to dry his tears. The heat and exhaustion of being so upset and so filled with grief got overcome by something similar to sunshine, calm pouring of a river and sweet scented winds. Loki calmed down, slowly and leaned his head against his brother's shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Thor..."


Bruce quickly looked between Loki and Clint, wondering if that mark that the God had mention actually was a direct link to Loki and if it worked like the Hulk and himself. When Bruce calmed down so did the Hulk. Perhaps when Clint witness Loki's desperation and change it caused him pain but hearing and noticing the calm sensation of change would relieve the pain?

 

[StarrieSky]

As Loki calmed down, the pain in Clint's head slowly faded until only a dull throbbing was left. He took a shuddering breath, taking in some much needed air. His hands left his head, and he pushed himself into a sitting position. Emma's arms were still wrapped around his shoulder, and he took some comfort from it, using it to steady himself. His body was still shaking slightly as he tried to come to terms with what just happened. The pain had left an emptiness inside him. He was so tired. It had taken a lot of energy out of him, leaving him feeling drained. He could feel Emma's eyes on him. "I'm fine..." He looked up, his gaze on the Gods. "What the hell was that?"


He sounded and looked so tired. Emma held on closely to the man, silently supporting him. She looked at Bruce, mouthing 'thank you' at him. If it hadn't been for his quick thinking Clint would still be in pain. Loki had cruelly proven his words to the man. But it hadn't just been a warning to Clint. It had also been a warning to her. She was now painfully aware of what her actions could cause. And it terrified her. She couldn't risk something like this. She wouldn't tell anyone of her travels anymore. It wasn't worth the risk. She looked over at Loki, waiting for him to compose himself.

 

[Syrrus]

Rubbing his eyes with tiny palms, Loki, who was still sitting in his brother's arm, still needing the comfort. Though both Captain America and Bruce wondered if he actually did need Thor's support or if this was yet another trick, to perhaps use him in some way or another? They did of course believe in a change a bit differently from Clint. Steve was raised to forget and forgive and Bruce well... He was just hoping that such things was possible.


"I told you..." Loki pointed towards his temple with one long finger, shivering still. "There is nothing I can do but pretend that there is no difference between me and the me from New York." He wrapped his arms around him and leaned against Thor. "Odin is correct, we're not gods. We live and we die just like you, give or take a few thousand years but we are also reborn each time we die. We will never, ever go away." Taking a shaking breath he glanced at Barton just to quickly avert his gaze again, terrified that they would hurt him.


"I can tell you who's going to change Tony, because it's my fault it's going to happen." Loki said, quietly as Thor wrapped his arms tighter around the boy, that was not a good thing to hear from Loki and it even caused Banner to frown, rather angrily down at him.

 

[StarrieSky]

Hawkeye rubbed a hand over his face, wanting the day to be over. After Loki's admittance of being the cause of Tony's change he was just fed up with the day. "I need a drink." He got up and stumbled over to the kitchen, filling a glass with some vodka and downing it in one go.


Emma merely frowned at the admittance, not wanting to judge after the meltdown the boy just had. She didn't have the same anger and distrust towards him as the Avengers had, so she was able to look at things at least a little objectively. "What do you mean it's your fault?" She hoped it wouldn't be anything serious. Not for his sake, but for Thor. She could see how much he loved his brother, but also how much it had hurt him when Loki was evil. She didn't know if his heart could take another betrayal. Not from Loki.

 

[Syrrus]

Loki couldn't look at them, he could feel their eyes burn in the back of his neck and it made him hide ever further against Thor's frame, if it was even possible. "Before I was killed by the All Father I gave a cosmic power to a mortal." The boy mumbled, loud enough for them to hear him. He was shivering, cold and devastated. How would they ever be able to forgive him now? He saw no reason for them to do so but Thor still didn't let go. Perhaps there was still hope? His brother was still holding his arm tightly around him, watching as both Bruce and Steve crossed their arms over their chests, looking rather frustrated over the whole situation. Steve more so than Bruce, he had seen what Loki's little mischief had done to their world, Bruce was just about to figure it out.


"You gave ... cosmic power to a human? What the heck is cosmic power?" Steve looked over at Hawkeye and Bruce, he didn't seem to want to hear the answer from Thor. Bruce peered back over at the Captain, wondering for a moment if the man were stupid. "The same thing as the cube, remember the blue thing from New York?" Steve nodded and then looked back down at Loki, arms crossed.

 

[StarrieSky]

Emma could hear Clint swear from his position in the kitchen. She was confused though. Cosmic power? A cube? She looked between the men, face furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about?" She turned back to Loki. "And is there a way to stop that... cosmic power, or something?" If they knew how to stop the cosmic power, they could stop it from affecting Tony. Then they could work on getting it away from his. Guessing from what Bruce said, something about a cube, it could be an item. They would just have to remove it from his possession. Ofcourse it wasn't as simple as it sounded, Emma wasn't as stupid as to think that. But now they finally knew what to do. It was a start.

 

[Syrrus]

Bruce looked over at Emma, was he suppose to explain? She was a competent young woman and he enjoyed her company, however he wasn't certain if he was allowed to speak about anything that went on in the Avengers Tower to what they could call 'civilians'. He then realized that Tony would have done it anyway and sighed deeply. "A cosmic power. There is six infinity stones, we have only encountered two of them. One being a cube that Loki used to summon an alien army to New York and another which... I'm not certain what it does, it was never in my reach to study or calculate. Hawkeye knows more about the cube than do, he was there when one of my old friends were researching it."


Bruce went silent and his eyes fell upon Loki who was now looking back at them, looking more confident than before and had moved away from his brother who still sat still on the floor. "I gave it to some weirdo with a red face. He had a vendetta with Captain America and I thought it was a good start to bring all of you down. I never thought it would destroy the world - not that I cared. You can probably take it back, if you wanted; it's not a infinity stone, by the way. It's not a true cosmic power. It's the brain of a mutant." Loki started to sway back and forth on his toes while talking, peering over at Clint. "Can I have a drink please? I remember asking way back then but you never gave me one."